Mortality associated with the use of upper-body control holds by police.
A review of police records for the nine-year period from 1974 to 1982 identified 20 men who died following restraint by an upper-body control hold while in the custody of a large, urban police department. Using evidence from autopsy findings and police reports of events immediately preceding death, we concluded that control-hold use was associated with death in 19 of the 20 cases. This investigation points to three factors potentially associated with control hold-related death that deserve further investigation: Phencyclidine (PCP) use, sickle cell trait, and stress-related arrhythmias in the heart. PCP was detected in blood or other tissues from 6 of 17 decedents tested. Intravascular red blood cell sickling was found at autopsy in 4 of 14 black decedents (29%). Four decedents had some indication of cardiovascular abnormalities.
Mercy
J A
JA
Division of Injury Epidemiology and Control, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Heath
C W
CW
Rosenberg
M L
ML
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications; D002423:Cause of Death; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000009:adverse effects; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications
D010622:Phencyclidine